Ferndale mom released from jail after refusing to vaccinate son

OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. (WJBK) - A Ferndale mother was thrown in jail for disobeying a court order to have her child vaccinated.

"It was the worst five days of my life pretty much," said Rebecca Bredow.

Bredow on Tuesday was out of jail and back in court again after serving five days of a seven-day sentence after not getting her 9-year-old vaccinated.

"The jail was horrific. The conditions in there at that time," she said. "It was really hard. The conditions in the Oakland County Jail are awful."

Bredow did appeal the judge's jail order, but lost.

"A contempt order was made, and for the record, it was appealed immediately and was dismissed for lack of merit," said Judge Karen McDonald.

And while Rebecca was in the Oakland County Jail, the boy's father got the boy four immunizations on Monday while he had custody.

Also in court today, Judge McDonald approved a friend of the court referees decision to have both parties split physical custody 50/50.

"I'm in shock. I was expecting to get him home today so I'm a little upset," Bredow said.

"These parties had their marriage annulled in 2008," said Steven Vitali, attorney for Bredow. "And Ms. Bredow been the primary custodian ever since for the child all these years, coming up on 10 years. Now the court and the referee has recommended there be 50-50 custody."

This is the second case this week in front of Judge McDonald's regarding vaccinations. In the other case the mom is objecting over her child being vaccinated on religious and medical reasons. That hearing continues Thursday.

As for whether Bredow was still willing to go to jail for what she believes in., she said:

"I do, absolutely I do," she said. "I stand up for what I believe in."